Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 15 / Trend K. Zarbaliyeva /
The Council of Europe prepared a new convention against domestic violence and violence against women.
"I hope that Azerbaijan will become one of the first countries adopting this convention," Veronika Kotek, Special Representative of the CE Secretary General in Azerbaijan, said in Baku at the international conference "10 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Achievements and Prospects".
She said that a new convention of the Council of Europe against domestic violence will be adopted in a year. "All countries must develop and implement political and national programs aimed at protecting women's rights. Azerbaijan implements national programs to develop the judicial system, economy and media. It is necessary to adopt a program to promote gender equality," Kotek said.
Baku hosted an international conference "10 years of UN Security Council resolution 1325: Achievements and Prospects" organized by the State Committee for Family, Women and Children.
The resolution 1325, adopted on October 31, 2000, stipulates women's rights to participate in decision making to protect and preserve the peace and security.
Kotek said that Azerbaijan implements various events to ensure women's rights. But there are still problems in this area.
"Real life has problems in ensuring women's rights fixed by the law. The unequal distribution of authority between men and women in economic and political sphere has a negative impact on the gender situation. Equal rights must be ensured on the labor market between women and men. Acceptable economic and professional conditions must be created for women. They must be provided with economic independence. Discrimination between men and women must be removed in the laws, "she said.
Men have the right to marry only after reaching 18, and women - 17 in Azerbaijan. It is important to eliminate this age difference, she added.